Introducing the HyperNet Relay

[Gerard_Amatin]

@Merin_Ryskin

No it doesn’t. It sounds like a greedy cash grab by CCP, exploiting gambling addicts for easy money. If the goal is to make it easier to liquidate expensive items then there would be no need to have the cash shop purchase to start the lottery. CCP could, at any time, implement a free game-wide market but instead they gave us loot boxes by another name.

CCP could easily have made an ISK sink for players to sell stuff on the HyperNet Relay, just like the regular EVE market has an ISK sink.

Instead CCP implemented for the HyperNet Relay a PLEX sink.

[Salivan_Harddin]

So a lottery, which is gambling, will not be regulated under this law because the countries are not going to take interest in this because… Weird, somewhere the logic seems to fall apart. Not what I’d expect from you Brisc, actually scratch that, I’d totally expect it from you.

I know its hard for you to understand that gambling is gambling, but I am sure we can get some picture book to explain it to you.

[Harabec_Ojutai]

No argument here. The fact that in-game currency can be purchased with real money makes this problematic. It doesn’t matter that hypernodes cost ISK–if someone really wants to gamble, they’ll just purchase more ISK.

But again, from a legal standpoint, as an attorney, I think the issue is extremely interesting. I also play Magic the Gathering, and the topic came up recently that one could argue that offering booster packs of random cards could be considered gambling. I think the question is coming up more and more and I’m interested to see how it all plays out.

[Mina_Sebiestar]

When you cant improve gaming experience proceed to siphon gambling addicts.

Milk that dollar Hilmar.

[Brisc_Rubal]

The SELLER buys the hypenodes, not the person bidding on the item. At least, that’s how this reads to me.

[Xelios]

I can buy isk with real money and use that isk to buy chances to win prizes. The fact that it’s being laundered through a token doesn’t change the flow of cash. But in the end it’ll be for the courts to decide. No matter what happens CCP gets at least a few years of operation out of this.

[Merin_Ryskin]

@Xelios

Same “backlash” happened with RNG mutaplasmids, today nobody cares. 3 weeks from now sub numbers are unchanged and CCP has a new revenue stream

I don’t know about that. Mutaplasmids were (IMO) a bad idea but they weren’t cash shop nonsense. Adding player-made loot boxes is crossing a line that CCP has not crossed before, one that many of us feel very strongly about.

[Nana_Skalski]

In Korea its from 18 years. There is even warning at log in.

Its strange as its the same game here and there. Maybe Koreans are more strict in rating games.

There is also warning icon for gambling in Korea.

[Harabec_Ojutai]

Lol. But honestly, doing things that will piss off your player base is one thing. Doing things that could potentially get your game banned in major markets is another. I don’t know, maybe you’re right. I guess we’ll see.

[Brisc_Rubal]

This is a bit of development that will likely end up paying for itself, so you can guarantee it got more resources than any balance change.

[Nicolai_Serkanner]

@Harabec_Ojutai

Doing things that could potentially get your game banned in major markets is another.

Ask the companies that have already had to stop their lotteries in their games.

[Umr_al-Tawil]

different markets in the uk its 12+ lol

[Wilhelm_Arcturus]

I woke up this morning to find CCP planning to bring back gambling to New Eden.

Why stop at the raffle? Why not give us a range of games of chance if this is all so “enjoyable.”

This is bad, and dumb, and reflects horribly on CCP’s culture and awareness of the reality of what is going on in their own market, where things that even seem like gambling are getting more and more government scrutiny.

But once it is on SiSi CCP is committed, the CSM has approved it, and it will go live. Let the comedy ensue.

[Merin_Ryskin]

So, the interesting question now is what CCP’s next direction is. After all, once you introduce another F2P cash shop mechanic you need to drive people to use it. Is anyone going to be surprised when CCP announces that they are “simplifying the user experience” by removing supercaps/unique ships/etc from the normal market and making sales of those items require buying cash shop listings on the premium market?

[Hanazava_Karyna]

Ouch. Fair enough.

[Complex_Math]

You may have a point, however, one big difference is: Loot boxes are purchased with real money. Purchasing raffle tickets is done with in-game isk.

That may be enough to differentiate the two. Maybe not enough for you and me, but for gambling laws? Quite possible.

[xxxTRUSTxxx]

not interested.

[Brisc_Rubal]

It’s unlikely that this will go that far - if the existing plex market hasn’t triggered any issues, this change won’t likely make a difference. After all, Somer Blink and the casinos ran for years and in the end CCP kills\ed them, not some nanny-state governmental agency.

[Mina_Sebiestar]

@Wilhelm_Arcturus

CSM has approved

Sellouts

[Tovh]

I agree with everything you jusy said, with the exception, they have crossed it before. Do you remember this?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvpIzBnCCKg